Wood-sawing machine



Oct. 31, 1939.

F GRAHEK WOOD-SAWING MACHINE Filed Nov. 30, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 31 1939. F, GRAHEK 'WOOD-SAWING MACHINE Filed Nov. 30, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gmwm Han)? rafi e75 w Patented Oct. 31, 1939 UNITED STT GFFIE WOOD- SAWING MACHINE Application November 30, 1937, Serial No. 177,331

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a wood-sawing machine and has relation more particularly to a reciprocating-saw machine of a drag type.

It is an object of the invention to provide a machine of this kind which can be employed with equal facility in either felling a tree or cutting the tree after being felled.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a machine of this kind which can be readily transported from one place to another as desired and wherein a power drive is provided for reciprocating the saw.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of this kind comprising a table supported for movement in both a horizontal direction and a vertical direction and which table carries the reciprocating saw and operating means therefor, the movements of the table permitting the saw to be adjusted at a required height as may be necessitated by a cutting operation and to also assure the proper advancing of the saw particularly when felling a tree.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved woodsawing machine whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a view in top plan of a sawing machine constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention, the saw being in position for felling a tree;

Figure 2 is a detailed sectional view taken longitudinally through a side portion of the machine as illustrated in Figure 1 with parts in elevation, the section being taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detailed cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially at the transverse center of the machine as illustrated in Figure l with certain of the parts in elevation;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional View taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detailed sectional ill view with parts in elevation illustrating a further embodiment of my invention as pertains to the moving of the table.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

5 denotes a platform or bed of desired dimensions 5 having its side longitudinal marginal portions defined by the upstanding fianges 2. Depending from the forward portion of this platform or bed I are the transversely spaced bearing members 3 with which are rotatably engaged a shaft or axle l carrying ground engaging Wheels 5. EX- tending rearwardly from the platform or bed I are the substantially parallel arms 6 each of which having its outer end portion formed to provide a hand grasp 7. Each of the arms 6 has depending therefrom a prop 3 which, when the machine is at rest, cooperates with the wheels 5 to maintain the bed or platform i in a horizontal position.

Disposed above the platform or bed I is a table 9 of desired dimensions and which has its marginal portions defined by the relatively broad flanges l0 having outer flat faces which directly contact the marginal portions of the platform or bed I. This table 9 is of a width to substantially bridge the space between the marginal flanges 2 of the platform or bed I whereby the flanges 2 serve to hold the table 9 against undue transverse or lateral movement as the table freely rests upon the bed or platform l when the flanges H) are in contact therewith.

The side marginal portions of the table 9 are formed to provide the upstanding and inwardly facing guideways l l in which are snugly received the side marginal portions of a sliding table or member l2. The portions of the table or mem- 35 ber l2 within the guideways H are thickened to provide relatively broad depending flanges 14 having flat faces for contact with the upper face of the table 9 within the guideways ll. These flanges l 4 maintain the major portion of the slid- 0 ing table or member l2 free of the table 5 so that said sliding table or member l2 may have endwise movement with minimum of frictional resistance. The forward or front end of the sliding table or member i2 is provided with the out- 45 wardly diverging arms iii, the outer free end portions of which are connected by the vertically spaced cross strips or members IE to provide a guideway for the head ll. This head H, as illustrated in Figure 4, has its end portions enlarged to snugly overlie the opposite edge faces of the strips or members It whereby the head ll is effectively mounted therebetween. The outer face of the head I! has extending forwardly therefrom a lug l8 through which is freely directed the 5 elongated shank I9. This shank I9 at one end is provided with a head 26 and threading upon the opposite end portion of the shank I 6 is a holding or clamping nut 2I. Interposed between the head 26 and the adjacent end of the lug I8 is a washer 22. Pivotally connected, as at 23, to the head 26 is an end portion of an elongated drag saw blade 24 which, when in the adjustment as illustrated in Figures 1, 3 and 4, is in position to fell a standing tree. When in this position the blade 24 to one side of the bed or platform I is received within a guide head 25 substantially U-shaped in cross section and which is carried by the outer end of a brace bar 26. This brace bar 26 at its inner end portion is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the forward portion of the table or bed 9 at one side thereof. This brace bar 26 together with the guide head 25 serves to give sufficient resistance to the blade 24 to assure its initial engagement with the tree to be felled as the saw blade 24 is reciprocated and thus prevent the saw blade 24 being swung inwardly beyond a predetermined point.

Coacting with the head 26 and the adjacent end portion of the saw blade 24 is a retractile spring 27 of a tension to assure the desired en gagement of the saw blade 24 with its work as the blade advances into the work, such as a tree trunk.

When it is desired to cut a fallen tree or log the blade 24 is turned to a position at right angles to what is shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4 which can be readily done upon loosening the holding or clamping bolt 2|. After this new adjustment of the blade 24 this bolt 2| should again be tightened. It is also to be stated that when the saw is to be used in this second position or adjustment the sliding table or member I2 will be advanced forwardly a distance sufficient to assure the blade 24 being clear of the head 25.

It is also to be stated that with the blade 24 in the position as illustrated in Figure 1, the desired penetration of the blade will be effected by forward movement of the sliding table or mem ber I2, but when the saw is in its second adjustment just referred to in cutting a fallen tree or log the weight of the blade plus the action of the spring 2! is sufficient to assure the desired penetration of the saw into the work.

The inner end of the head I1 is provided with a flattened lug 28 to which is pivotally connected, as at 29, one end portion of a rigid link 30 which in turn has its opposite end portion pivotally connected, as at 3|, to one end portion of a rock lever 32. This lever 32 at a desired point intermediate its ends is pivotally connected, as at 33, with the forward portion of the sliding table or member I2, or more particularly one of the diverging arms I5 thereof. Upon rocking of the the lever 32 the head I! together with the blade 24 will be caused to reciprocate, the stroke of course being dependent upon the throw of the portion of the lever 32 with which the lever 36 is engaged.

The end portion of the lever 32 remote from the lever 30 is pivotally connected, as at 34, with an end portion of a link 35, the opposite end portion of which link 35 is pivotally connected, as at 36, with a disk 31. The pivotal connection 36 is eccentric to the axial center of the disk 31 so that as the disk 3'! is rotated the lever 32 will be rocked back and forth. The pivotal connection 36 of the link 35 with the disk 31 is from below the disk 31 as is particularly illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings.

The disk 31, as herein disclosed, is formed to rotate with an upstanding tubular axle 38 and which axle rotates within a bearing sleeve 39 carried by the outer portion of a bracket plate 46. This plate 46 is carried by an upstanding post or column 4| mounted upon the sliding table or member I2. The shaft 38 extends above the sleeve 39 and to said upwardly extending portion of the shaft 38 is secured a holding member 42.

The bore of the tubular shaft 38 extends through the disk 3! and the outer or under face of the disk 31 in its central part has a radially directed recess 43 intersecting the bore and which recess is adapted to receive the laterally disposed lugs 44 carried by the lower end portion of a shaft 45. This shaft 45 is freely disposed through the tubular shaft 38 and when this shaft 45 is in its raised position, as illustrated in Figure 4, the lugs 44 will be received within the recess 43 and thereby lock the tubular shaft 36 thereto for rotation with the shaft 45. maintained in its raised or effective position with respect to the shaft 38 and its disk 37 in a manner to be hereinafter more particularly referred to.

The shaft 45 above the shaft 38 has keyed thereto for rotation therewith a gear 46. This connection between the shaft 45 and gear 46 is such, however, that the shaft 45 is free for endwise movement through the gear 46. The gear 46, as herein disclosed, meshes with a pinion 4! carried by a drive shaft 48 driven in a conventional manner from a motor M preferably of an internal combustion type. The connection between the shaft 48 and the motor M is through a conventional transmission T whereby the shaft 46 may be driven at different speeds or in reverse directions as may be required. The shaft 48 is rotatably supported through a suitable bearing 49 provided at the upper portion of the post or column 4| hereinbefore referred to.

The central portion of the platform I is provided with a longitudinally disposed slot 50 through which are directed the brackets 5| depending from the sliding table or member I2. Freely disposed through these brackets 5| is a threaded shaft 52 rotatably supported by the platform, I. Threaded on the shaft 52 and snugly engaged between the brackets 52 is a gear 53. The shaft 52 at the rear of the platform I has fixed thereto a handle 54. When the shaft 52 is rotated by this handle 54 it will cause the gear 53 to move lengthwise of the shaft 52 in accordance with the direction of rotation of the shaft. Upon forward travel of the gear 53 on the shaft 52 the sliding table or member I2 and the elements mounted thereon will be moved forwardly. This manual movement of the sliding table or member I 2 is particularly desirable when the machine is employed with relatively small work. However, in connection with heavy work and particularly in the felling of large trees, it is important that the movement of the sliding table or member I2 be by power and in order to accom plish this the gear 53 herein disclosed meshes with a pinion 55 carried by the lower end portion of a vertically disposed shaft 56 rotatably held by a bracket 5'! herein disclosed as extending outwardly from the motor block.

The upper portion of this shaft 56 carries a gear 58 meshing with a pinion 59 rotatably supported by the post 4i and rotating about a horizontal axis. Rotating with the pinion 59 is a gear 60 meshing with a pinion 6| freely mounted on the shaft 48. The shaft 48 has keyed thereto for rotation therewith but free for movement The shaft 45 is lengthwise thereof a clutch member 62 which, when moved in one direction, engages a clutch face 63 carried by the pinion BI whereby the pinion 6| will rotate with the shaft 48 and thereby rotate the gear 53 in the desired direction tomove the sliding'table' or member 82 in the desired direction. It is believed to be obvious that the direction of movement of the sliding table or member l2 under the action of the shaft 48 will be determined by the adjustment of the transmission T, or in other Words, when such transmission is in forward or reverse adjustment.

The clutch member 62 may be moved into clutching or declutching position with respect to the pinion 6| in any desired manner. In the present embodiment of the invention a lever 64 is provided, said lever being pivotally connected intermediate its ends, as at 95, to the top wall 96 of a housing H enclosing the major portion of the mechanism mounted upon the sliding table or member l2 and which housing is also carried by such sliding table or member l2. This top wall 66 has a suitable opening 61 through which the lever 64 is projected so that the desired throwing of the clutch member 62 into either of its positions may be easily and readily accomplished.

It is of importance and advantage to provide means whereby the position of the blade 24 with respect to its work may be vertically adjusted and particularly to position the saw in effective position with respect to work of varying sizes. In the present embodiment of the invention this is accomplished by providing the table 9 fore and aft thereof and adjacent to its side margins with the depending guide arms 68. These arms 68 are of desired length and are freely disposed through suitably positioned openings 69 provided in the platform-ll. The arms 68 at each side of the table 9 are tied or connected by a horizontally disposed rigid bar it as is particularly illustrated in Figures 2 and 4 of the drawings. Contacting from below with each of these bars 19 is an angular end portion H of a forwardly and downwardly directed rock arm 72 carried by a shaft 13. This shaft 13 is rotatably supported by the bearings i4 depending from the platform I. Also fixed to the shaft 13 is a rearwardly extending lever 75 which provides means whereby the rock shaft it may be operated, as a result of depressing the lever F5, to raise the table 9 and the parts carried thereby as desired. Obviously, as the lever 75 is raised, the table 9 will be permitted to lower. It is believed to be clear therefore that through the medium of the lever '15 the table 9 may be selectively vertically adjusted as desired with respect to the platform l. The lever 15 is held in its desired adjusted position by coaction in a conventional manner with a rack if; herein disclosed as carried by one of the arms In the present embodiment of my invention the shaft 45 is maintained in its raised position for interlocking with the gear 31 by an arm 'l'l, herein disclosed as being pivotally connected, as at 18, to the top wall 66 of the housing H. The outer or free end portion of this arm I? carries a fork 79 which straddles the upper portion of the shaft 35 and engages from below an enlargement or head 89 carried by the outer or upper end portion of the shaft.

Should it be desired to manually move the sliding table or member l2 forwardly or rearwardly, a suitable link or pitman may be engaged with the upstanding lug 8! carried by the rear portion of the table or member l2 and with an upstanding lever 82 which is pivotally connected,

as at 83, with a cross member 84 secured to and interposed between the arms 6.

Fixed to the central portion of the shaft or axle 4 is a gear 85 meshing with a pinion 86 carried by the lower portion of a vertically disposed shaft 8?. This shaft 8'! is rotatably engaged within a bearing 88 depending from the platform I. The table 9 is provided with an opening 89 so that no hinderance or obstruction is offered to the shaft 8'! and also to permit the shaft 45 when lowered to have locking engagement with the shaft 8? so that the shaft or axle 4 may be power driven when it is desired to transport the machine from one location to another. When this shaft QE is to be lowered the sliding table or member [2 is adjusted to bring into register with the opening 89 an opening 99 through the sliding table or member l2 to also allow the shaft 45 to be dropped or lowered into locking engagement with the shaft 87.

In the present embodiment of the invention the upper portion of the shaft 81 is provided with a socket 9| to receive the lower extremity of the shaft 45 and said shaft 87 is also provided with the radially aligned open notches 92 to receive the lugs 44 of the shaft 45 whereby the shafts 45 and 8'! may be eifectively locked for unitary rotation.

In connection with small or light work it is entirely satisfactory to permit the vertical adjustment of the table 9 which is manually accomplished through the lever 15 as hereinbefore described. However, in connection with large or heavy work it is of equal importance that the working mechanism of the machine in its vertical adjustments be under power control. In Figure 6 of the drawings there is illustrated means for accomplishing such power operation and in this figure the sliding table or member 93 has the depending brackets 94 extending through a suitably positioned slot 95 in the under table 95. This table 96 is mounted upon a supporting platform in a manner as hereinbefore described with respect to the table 9. Freely disposed through the brackets 94 is a threaded shaft 97 rotatably carried by the table 9%, and threaded upon this shaft 91 and snugly engaged between the brackets 94 is a gear 98. This gear 98 is adapted to be driven from the motor of the machine in substantially the same manner as hereinbefore described and illustrated in connection with the gear 53. Upon rotation of this gear 98 around the shaft 91 the gear 98 will move lengthwise of the shaft 91 in accordance with the direction of rotation of the gear 98 and carry the sliding table or member 93 either forwardly or rearwardly. However, when the gear 98 is locked to the shaft 91 the gear 98 and shaft 91 will rotate in unison without imparting movement to the sliding table or member 93.

As is illustrated in Figure 6, the gear 98 is provided with a laterally disposed and axially arranged sleeve 99 which extends through the adjacent bracket 94, and the outer end of this sleeve 99 is formed to provide a clutch face Hill for coaction with the clutch member Hll keyed upon the shaft 91 for rotation therewith but free to have movement lengthwise thereof so that said member lill can be shifted into clutching or declutching position with respect to the clutch face I99. As herein disclosed, the clutch member i8! is shifted as desired through the medium of a suitably supported operating arm I02.

Also threaded upon the shaft 91 is a nut I03 which, when the shaft 91 is caused to rotate with the gear 98, has movement lengthwise of the shaft 91 in a direction dependent upon the direction of rotation of the gear 98. Depending from this nut I03 is an arm I04 to which is pivotally connected, as at I05, an end portion of a rod I06 which in turn is pivotally connected, as at I01, with a rock arm I08 depending from a shaft I09 suitably supported by and below the table 96. The table 96 is provided along each marginal portion thereof with a horizontally disposed bar H with which engages from below a rock arm III carried by the shaft I09. Upon upward movement of each of the rock arms III the table 96 and the parts mounted thereon will be raised and which upward movement of the arms III is readily accomplished upon rotation in the proper direction of the gear 98. When it is desired to have the table 96 lower, it is only necessary to permit the gear 98 to rotate in the opposite direction.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that wood-sawing machine constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A machine of the class described comprising a portable body, a table positioned above the body and free to raise and lower, a sliding table carried by the first table, sawing means carried by the sliding table, a shaft carried by the first table, a member threaded upon the shaft for movement therealong upon rotation of the member, said member being operatively engaged with the sliding table to cause said table to travel therewith as the member moves in either direction along the shaft to extend or retract the sliding table, a rock arm supported by the body below the first table, a second member threaded on the shaft, an operative connection between the second member and the rock arm to raise the first table upon movement of the second member in one direction along the shaft, said rock arm allowing the first table to lower upon movement in the opposite direction along the shaft, and means for connecting the first member and the shaft for unitary movement to cause travel of the second member along the shaft.

2. A machine of the class described comprising a portable body including a ground engaging wheel, a driven shaft operatively connected with said wheel, a head mounted upon the body for reciprocating movement and to which a saw blade is to be attached, a vertically disposed tubular shaft supported by the body and adapted to align with the driven shaft, an operative connection between the tubular shaft and the head for reciprocating the head upon rotation of the tubular shaft, a third shaft slidably disposed through the tubular shaft, said third shaft having clutching means operatively engaging the tubular shaft for unitary rotation when the third shaft is in one position and engaging the driven shaft for unitary rotation when the third shaft is in a second position, and means for rotating the shaft when in either position.

3. A machine of the class described comprising a portable body including a ground engaging wheel, a driven shaft operatively connected with said wheel, a head mounted upon the body for reciprocating movement and to which a saw blade is to be attached, a vertically disposed tubular shaft supported by the body and adapted to align with the driven shaft, an operative connection between the tubular shaft and the head for reciprocating the head upon rotation of the tubular shaft, a third shaft slidably disposed through the tubular shaft, said third shaft having clutching means operatively engaging the tubular shaft for unitary rotation when the third shaft is in one position and engaging the driven shaft for unitary rotation when the third shaft is in a second position, and means for rotating the shaft when in either position, said shaft having endwise movement in a vertical direction, and means detachably engaging the shaft to hold the same against dropping when said shaft is in a raised position and operatively engaged with the tubular shaft. I

FRANK GRAHEK. 

